2
Oct

Danielle’s Digest: week of 9/27/15

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I'm back to work on my third book, and Easton is along for the ride! We've been having fun creating in the kitchen this week, and also playing scientists trying to figure out the differences between palm shortening brands! Scroll to the bottom to see the experiment!

Easton_and_I_are_in_the_kitchen_creating_some_pumpkin_goodies_for_you_guys__These_egg_free__nut_free_pumpkin_chocolate_chip_cookies_were_a_flop_but_we_will_try_again___aagtestkitchen

Easton and I are in the kitchen creating some pumpkin goodies for you guys! These egg free, nut free pumpkin chocolate chip cookies were a flop but we will try again! 

Excited_to_get_back_into_the_office_today._I_love_my_job_and_love_that_I_can_have_E_here_with_me___workingmom__bosslady

Excited for the days where I get to be back in the office. I love my job and love that I can have E here with me!

I_had_plans_to_cook_tonight__but_life_had_other_plans____Lettuce_wrapped_burgers_with_onions__bacon__tomato__and_avocado_for_dinner.__habitburger

I had plans to cook dinner, but life had other plans! ? Lettuce wrapped burgers with onions, bacon, tomato, and avocado for a quick meal!

I_was_craving_s_BLT.__blenderbread_to_the_rescue.__Recipe_is_from_my_Joyful_ebook__Link_in_profile.___paleo__aagjoyful__httpamzn.to1uacdxO

I was craving a BLT. Blender Bread to the rescue. 
Recipe is from my Joyful ebook

My_little_cuddlebug.__

I love my little cuddle bug and chilly Fall mornings!

Pumpkin_Spice_Latte_in_a_Christmas_cup_Why_not___holidayobsessed__Link_in_profile_for_recipe____psl__pumpkinspicelatte__dairyfree__junkfree

Pumpkin Spice Latte in a Christmas cup? Why not?! You can find the recipe here!

slow cooker pot roastDinner was the Slow Cooker Pot Roast from the Against all Grain cookbook over Hannah sweet potato purée with a side salad of romaine, lettuce, jicama, honeycrisp apples, spiced almonds, and cucumbers in the champagne vinaigrette from Meals Made Simple. I love the Hannah variety because they are a lot less sweet and a little more of a mild flavor. I used ghee and almond milk to make the purée. 

ashers lunch

One of Asher's lunches consisted of: rice crackers with hummus, strawberries, carrots, Persian cucumber, and a nut-free real deal chocolate chip cookie (Meals Made Simple, page 280). He picked out the cucumber from the store as his new veggie of the week to try. We'll see how many come home ?

Get the lunchbox here

chocolate avocado shake

I made my Creamy Chocolate Avocado Smoothie (from my Cookery app or on my blog) and added a little pumpkin pie spice. Trader Joe's blend is my favorite, but you can easily mix up your own… it was so good!

bassinet of bugaboo
I love popping the bassinet off my Bugaboo stroller when Easton falls asleep on our walks and clipping it into the stand so I can come inside and shower and get ready while he sleeps. Now if only it rocked back and forth on its own to keep him asleep longer. ?

yumbox

We also loved trying out the YumBox this week for Asher's lunch since you all recommended it so highly! I let it sit on its side and shook it around to test the ketchup, and not a single leak! He got an all beef, grass-fed hotdog, gluten-free pretzels, watermelon, carrots, seaweed, and a homemade fruit-by-the-foot.

Get this lunchbox here

recipe testing frostings

Recipe testing can be so frustrating at times, especially when the products vary so much! This is a new frosting recipe I've been working on for book #3 and we've done it over 20 times. Today I wanted to try different brands and subs to see how it would turn out in your kitchens. 
We used Spectrum's palm shortening instead of the usual Tropical Traditions one I normally use. Look at that difference! I'm going to try to figure out if there's an equation to make it work no matter what brand you use. We also tested Nutiva and it turn out the same as the Spectrum.

We went back to testing and found that it didn't make too much of a difference in baked goods, but frosting is tricky! Stay tuned, I'm hoping to figure it out.

Here's my favorite brand, Tropical Traditions. It works the best in my recipes and is sustainably harvested!